Baby Buds Report

By Kevin Kelly

October 7th, 2002

The St. John’s Maple Leafs will have some more facesin their lineup as Toronto made it’s final cuts overthe weekend.

Joining St. John’s will be defenceman Anders Eriksson,who played well when here in St. John’s last season.Also sent to the Rock were forwards Aaron Gavey, PaulHealey, Josh Holden and Alexei Ponikarovsky along withgoalie Mikael Tellqvist, who had a very strong campaccording to many Toronto reporters.

With the addition of Tellqvist and his improved play,the Leafs should have a very strong goaltendingcontingent this season. Sebastien Centomo hopes tokeep up his 2001-02 heroics, while Jamie Hodson isalso in the battle for now. Hodson is suffering froman undisclosed injury but may be back for the seasonopener against Wilkes-Barre. The question is whetherHodson will play a regular season game for the Leafsthis season. There are no shortage of goalies aroundthat could play for the Baby Leafs this year.

One of those goalies who could be playing but isn’t isMike Minard. Minard, the former Leafs MVP two yearsago, who was somewhat surprisingly sent to Memphis,has refused to report there, and he told local papersthat he wasn’t given a chance to prove himself inToronto’s camp. He is trying to be loaned to anotherAHL team if at all possible. Minard says he has proventhat he can play well in the AHL and wants to get backwith the Leafs, but that seems unlikely. Let’s hopesomething can be worked out to see Minard back in theAHL somehow. His Mini’s Munchkins program benefittingsick kids will be taken over by Morgan Warren. Thegoaltending situation is an interesting one, so we’llkeep you posted.

As for the new additions, Paul Healey and Ponikarovskywill look to continue to play well and give someguidance to a much younger Leafs squad. Highly toutedprospect Brad Boyes, and WHL Scoring champ NathanBarrett will also benefit the offence, but it will beinteresting to see how they adjust to the AHL game.Aaron Gavey and Josh Holden will bring experience tothe table and despite his big contract and problemswith Toronto, Anders Eriksson will be a great benefitto the St. John’s club. He will be the mostexperienced defenceman out there and will help youngguys like Allan Rourke, Petr Svoboda and ChrisChartier who will be asked to become the leaders onthe defensive corps.

The Leafs first game will be October 10th on the roadagainst the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins and willhave games against Albany, the Penguins (again) andthe Bridgeport Sound Tigers before their first homegame October 22nd against Manitoba.

Leafs notes:

Highly touted prospect Brad Boyes was named in thelocal paper, The Telegram, as “being the biggestprospect in a St. John’s uniform since Felix Potvin”.Leaf Fans hope he will make a significant impressionthis season.

If you love the Leafs and live in Canada’s CapitalOttawa, Valentine’s Day will be special for you as theLeafs will battle the Binghamton Senators at the CorelCentre February 15th, 2003.

All the Leafs action will be as near as your computeras 930 AM Radio Newfoundland will carry the Leafsbroadcasts once again this season.Check out the Leafs athttp://www.radionewfoundland.net

The Leafs held a special celebration luncheon forSpecial Olympics at the St. John’s Convention CentreOctober 7th.